Micromyrtus delicata

Micromyrtus delicata is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of northern coastal Queensland. It is a shrub with overlapping, linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and small white flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.

Description
Micromyrtus delicata is a shrub that typically grows up to 1 m high, with erect branchlets. Its leaves overlap each other and are linear to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 1.7–3.9 mm long, 0.4–0.8 mm wide and sessile or on a petiole up to 0.3 mm long. The leaves have prominent oil glands and the edges of the leaves sometimes have finely toothed margins. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.5–0.9 mm long, each flower 2.5–3.0 mm wide. There are 2 bracteoles about 0.6 mm long at the base of the flower. There are 5 relatively inconspicuous, translucent sepals and 5 keeled petals 0.9–1.2 mm long and 0.9–1.0 mm wide. There are five stamens, each opposite a petal, the filaments 0.3–0.4 mm long. Flowering has been observed between January and March.

Taxonomy
Micromyrtus delicata was first formally described in 1997 by Anthony Bean in the journal Austrobaileya from specimens collected 4 km west of Herberton by Paul Irwin Forster in 1994. The specific epithet (delicata) means "charming", referring to the foliage of this species.

Distribution and habitat
This species of micromyrtus is only known from the type location in central eastern Queensland, where it grows in open woodland.

Conservation status
Micromytus delicata is listed as "endngered" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.